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Top Of The Pops 1982 - BBC4


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Old 28-07-2016, 23:02
Torch81
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Great news for Associates fans, two videos have recently appeared on YouTube of the band performing Club Country and Party Fears Two while walking around Kensington Roof Gardens in May 1982, filmed for a French TV programme. They'd apparently been stored away in an archive for 34 years:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i38fCDsrKIg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ww2AYxrPqkk
Wow! and a very big wow at that, what a find! Thank you very much for alerting us to those Andy! Two brilliant performances. Just thoroughly enjoyed watching those, fabulous stuff them both. I doubt they were actually his own, (or maybe they were!), but nice to see Billy managed to get what look like a couple of his beloved whippets into the Club Country clip.
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Old 28-07-2016, 23:22
Rich Tea.
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Luckily - I'm probably one of the least brain washable people on the planet! I rarely follow the crowd - hence my dislike of 'Winner Takes It All' & love of 'Shaddup Ya Face'!! - But I do have normally good taste in music!!
Me too Ursula. That's probably why I am likely one of the few remaining people in the country who does not own or listen to any music by Adele, to cite one recent music example.

Although I do think I was brainwashed on one occasion, in September 1997 when I went out to buy that Candle In The Wind '97 song by Elton John that he rewrote for Diana. I bought it, played it once and never again. It makes me wince just thinking about it now.
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Old 28-07-2016, 23:35
UrsulaU
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Forgot about your dislike for Winner Takes It All........ and you have a (friendly) go at me for disliking Golden Brown! .
Well - each to their own!!

Me too Ursula. That's probably why I am likely one of the few remaining people in the country who does not own or listen to any music by Adele, to cite one recent music example.

Although I do think I was brainwashed on one occasion, in September 1997 when I went out to buy that Candle In The Wind '97 song by Elton John that he rewrote for Diana. I bought it, played it once and never again. It makes me wince just thinking about it now.
Well - I'm pleased to say I have bought neither Adele nor 'Candle In The Wind 97'!!
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Old 28-07-2016, 23:46
Torch81
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Forgot about your dislike for Winner Takes It All........ and you have a (friendly) go at me for disliking Golden Brown!
Where have you been Boz? You should know by now that our lovely Ms U is prone to voicing her dislike of that one should the opportunity arise. And, she well knows I'm frequently furious about it! In a good humoured/appreciate we all like and dis-like different stuff kind of way I hope.

Well - each to their own!!

Well - I'm pleased to say I have bought neither Adele nor 'Candle In The Wind 97'!!
But, we are on common ground and in total agreement over this.
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Old 28-07-2016, 23:51
Rich Tea.
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Even on this thread where so much that is similar brings us together there is also much that divides us too.

Except the Associates tonight. There seems to be nobody on here who dislikes Party Fears Two.
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Old 29-07-2016, 00:00
Torch81
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Even on this thread where so much that is similar brings us together yet there is also so much that divides us too.

Except the Associates tonight. There seems to be nobody on here who dislikes Party Fears Two.
Indeed. But that's exactly what keeps it (generally ) an enjoyable, fun and interesting thread isn't it.

Re: your second sentence. I should tactfully remind you that from memory the same occurred just recently over Soft Cell's 'Say Hello...' . Best two groups of '82, well for me anyway - Soft Cell and The Associates. Happy times, great songs, really great memories.
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Old 29-07-2016, 00:05
Rich Tea.
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Indeed. But that's exactly what keeps it (generally ) an enjoyable, fun and interesting thread isn't it.

Re: your second sentence. I should tactfully remind you that from memory the same occurred just recently over Soft Cell's 'Say Hello...' . Best two groups of '82, well for me anyway - Soft Cell and The Associates. Happy times, great songs, really great memories.
Agree with everything you say here Torch.

I was just thinking what a great period it was for fabulous bands coming out of Scotland in this period too, like The Associates (from Highlander Ian's hometown), Altered Images and of course Simple Minds get their first big hit any day now. I'm sure I've missed some other obvious Scottish artists who broke through in this period.
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Old 29-07-2016, 00:06
JBO
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Man in long brown coat and beret wanted by police on suspicion of stealing tonight's episode of TOTP82
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Old 29-07-2016, 00:10
Torch81
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Man in long brown coat and beret wanted by police on suspicion of stealing tonight's episode of TOTP82
Spot on that man!
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Old 29-07-2016, 00:16
SgtRock
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Listening to the tune of Party Fears Two, I'm wondering what key it is in. I think the answer is "all of them".
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Old 29-07-2016, 00:16
Boz_Lowdownl
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Me too Ursula. That's probably why I am likely one of the few remaining people in the country who does not own or listen to any music by Adele, to cite one recent music example.

Although I do think I was brainwashed on one occasion, in September 1997 when I went out to buy that Candle In The Wind '97 song by Elton John that he rewrote for Diana. I bought it, played it once and never again. It makes me wince just thinking about it now.
Ditto re Adele.

The lead track on that EJ CD you bought is superb, one of Elton's best, and certainly should be played many times.
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Old 29-07-2016, 00:22
Torch81
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Agree with everything you say here Torch.

I was just thinking what a great period it was for fabulous bands coming out of Scotland in this period too, like The Associates (from Highlander Ian's hometown), Altered Images and of course Simple Minds get their first big hit any day now. I'm sure I've missed some other obvious Scottish artists who broke through in this period.
Well, I think you've named them already there Rich. But, we've got a couple of Scottish one's currently active who were 'bubbling under' about now who will make a break through reasonably soon, i.e. Aztec Camera and Orange Juice. Agreed though, this was a good time it seems for artists breaking through from north of the border. I'm sure Mr H is suitably proud of some of his compatriots emergence during this period.
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Old 29-07-2016, 00:25
Torch81
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Listening to the tune of Party Fears Two, I'm wondering what key it is in. I think the answer is "all of them".
Haha! And all the better for it. Blooming classic isn't it. Love it!
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Old 29-07-2016, 00:28
JBO
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Just noticed Billy Mackenzie died on my 24th birthday


He was only 39
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Old 29-07-2016, 02:05
Rich Tea.
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Man in long brown coat and beret wanted by police on suspicion of stealing tonight's episode of TOTP82
No suspicion about it. He did. One case of theft that certainly was no crime. It's so good it hurts.

It also hurts to know he felt he had to depart by his own hand at such a young age when so talented.
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Old 29-07-2016, 02:32
Andy_JS
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It's a shame The Associates sunk without a trace after 1982. I don't know whether they tried to record any hits from 1983 onwards.

One of the best singles first released during 1982 in my opinion is Love Is A Stranger by Eurythmics, but of course it only reached number 54 at the end of the year and had to wait until 1983 to become a top 10 hit. This is the group performing it live on a Radio 1 session in 1982:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UODB6Ip2JqI
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Old 29-07-2016, 07:08
UrsulaU
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Forgot about your dislike for Winner Takes It All........ and you have a (friendly) go at me for disliking Golden Brown! .
Where have you been Boz? You should know by now that our lovely Ms U is prone to voicing her dislike of that one should the opportunity arise. And, she well knows I'm frequently furious about it! In a good humoured/appreciate we all like and dis-like different stuff kind of way I hope.
I think that 'Winner Takes It All' comment is going to follow me to my grave!! - You wouldn't think that ABBA were one of my favourite groups as a child!! - (Well they were until 1980)!!
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Old 29-07-2016, 07:13
Jedikiah
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Should be there or thereabouts shouldn't it. I can never quite decide which I think their best single is, tonight's or Club Country. They're both such unusual and innovative little moments of pop magic that it's hard to decide. Both are pure class obviously though whatever.
Yes, "Club Country" is a great one too. I am not sure it flows so smooth and so naturally as "Party Fears Two", though. It may just seem a little more contrived. I must admit though i haven't listened to it much of late. I'll have to give it another spin! I may be wrong! In a way, The Associates remind me a little of Sparks, and especially Billy's way out operatic vocals. It would have been interesting to hear Billy and Russell Mael sing a duet!
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Old 29-07-2016, 07:18
UrsulaU
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Except the Associates tonight. There seems to be nobody on here who dislikes Party Fears Two.
True.

Man in long brown coat and beret wanted by police on suspicion of stealing tonight's episode of TOTP82


Listening to the tune of Party Fears Two, I'm wondering what key it is in. I think the answer is "all of them".



It's good to see such an alternative & unusual band like The Associates have united us forumites for once - we are all in agreement that they (& especially Party Fears Two) were great!

Hard to believe this would be the case in 1982, when I remember not many people liked them at school. In fact I remember our Art teacher coming into class the next day complaining about the 'terrible' singer he had seen on TOTP the night before (meaning Billy Mckenzie)!! - However - I'm proud to say I called out in class "Oh I like him!" See - even as a 12 year old I was defending good music!
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Old 29-07-2016, 07:26
Straker
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It's a shame The Associates sunk without a trace after 1982. I don't know whether they tried to record any hits from 1983 onwards.
Indeed they did, this limp version of Blondie's hit being the most notorious example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfqca97AnDI

Didn't even make the Top 50 let alone top 40.
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Old 29-07-2016, 07:31
UrsulaU
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Yes, "Club Country" is a great one too. I am not sure it flows so smooth and so naturally as "Party Fears Two", though. It may just seem a little more contrived. I must admit though i haven't listened to it much of late. I'll have to give it another spin! I may be wrong! In a way, The Associates remind me a little of Sparks, and especially Billy's way out operatic vocals. It would have been interesting to hear Billy and Russell Mael sing a duet!
'Party Fears Two' is by far the superior song! - I bet there are legendary rock musicians out there who wished they had come up with such a masterpiece.
As you say - the whole way it just flows - & the atmosphere of the piano playing, the bass, Billy's voice - there is no bad part to it - absolute classic & as I've said before, probably my most favourite single from the 1980s!!
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Old 29-07-2016, 07:53
UrsulaU
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Indeed they did, this limp version of Blondie's hit being the most notorious example:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfqca97AnDI

Didn't even make the Top 50 let alone top 40.
Oh dear - I forgot about that one! - Why do all bands go through a 'not so good' period over time?
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Old 29-07-2016, 08:50
Jedikiah
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'Party Fears Two' is by far the superior song! - I bet there are legendary rock musicians out there who wished they had come up with such a masterpiece.
As you say - the whole way it just flows - & the atmosphere of the piano playing, the bass, Billy's voice - there is no bad part to it - absolute classic & as I've said before, probably my most favourite single from the 1980s!!
Yes, "Party Fears Two" has a sweeping majestic quality, which is lacking in "Club Country", which i think like you say, contributes to making it one of the highlights of the entire eighties. "Club Country" in its own right isn't bad, and it has some very interesting elements, but they seem more thrown together, so to speak, rather than developing more organically.

What struck me about the show this week, was that all the tracks had redeeming features, apart from "The Lion Sleeps Tonight", which for me, does possess a little more of the later eighties disposable feel. I really do think The Tokens version from the early sixties is much fresher, and more effective sounding. I wonder also whether the song would have been so successful if the genuine vocalist on the record, had been featured in all appearances to promote it, instead of male model, Steve Grant. In many ways, Tight Fit's No 1 success seems to anticipate what would become of many of the chart sounds of the later eighties period, and dare i say, its success may even have encouraged it. It may have existed as a role model for the most effective marketing strategy.

I didn't dislike the Julio Iglesias track, either, or the Pluto reggae track "Your Honour", which i found rather infectious. Adrian Gurvitz "Classic" has many redeeming features too, but perhaps i would have preferred it as a Shadows type instrumental track, considering Adrian's potent guitar skills. It may have worked better that way.

7.5/10 for the episode.
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Old 29-07-2016, 09:00
kwynne42
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Top Of The Pops tonight is from Thursday 11th March 1982 with Simon Bates.

Happy 15th anniversary mum & dad!

Good evening Class Of '82.
Did Simon think he was on the Radio? he kept giving time checks and looking at his watch.
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Old 29-07-2016, 09:04
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I'd rather have seen Pluto than Julio.
Not me after watching him on the late edition, utter drivel.
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